After a brief illness Mrs. Mary E. Foree died at 5:45 p.m. on last Monday, October 29, 1923, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. May Daniel, in Wilmore, Kans. Although past 84 years of age, she had, until two or three years ago, been in robust health and had gone about with the same energy and enthusiasm for her work and the same interest in her family that had characterized her long and eventful life. A couple weeks before her death she appeared to become weaker, and from that time her life on earth gradually ebbed away, the end coming peacefully and almost without a struggle. With her at the time of her passing were her daughter, Mrs. Daniel, and her son, Charles F., and a few of the neighbors. Her son, Jeff, did not arrive in Wilmore from his home in Arkansas until Tuesday. The two other sons, James C. and Robert, could not be present at the funeral, which was conducted on Wednesday afternoon from the Baptist church in Wilmore, the pastor, Rev. C. W. Safford, being in charge. Interment was in the Wilmore cemetery.

Deceased was born in Greene-co., New York, on September 4, 1839. Her age at the time of her death was 84 years, 1 month and 24 days. She was the second daughter of Rev. Caleb C. and Mary Elizabeth Bush. When she was 11 years of age she moved with the family from New York to northeastern Missouri, where they made their home for many years. On April 25, 1865, in Clark-co., Mo., she was united in marriage with James Madison Foree, and to this union eight children were born, five of whom survive, as follows: James C. of Riddle, Ore.; Robert B. of Omaha, Nebr.; Thos. J. of Calico Rock, Ark.; Charles F. of Coldwater and Mrs. L. May Daniel of Wilmore. One daughter, Mrs. Alvira C. Boyd of Toronto, Canada, died about three years ago. Two baby girls died several years ago. Mrs. Foree also raised seven step-daughters, all of whom grew to womanhood and who always spoke of her as "our dear mother." The husband and father passed away about 29 years ago.

For a number of years Mrs. Foree had made her home with her children, visiting with each for a time. During the past four or five years she had lived most of the time in this county with her son, Charles, and her daughter, Mrs. Daniel. Whenever she went she radiated sunshine and good cheer, and it was always a benediction to have her in one's home. She was uniformly kind, hopeful and uncomplaining. At the age of 11 she was converted, and through all her life she adhered steadfastly to her faith in Christ as her savior and as her constant example. When she was converted she was baptized in a river when there was 11 inches of ice, which fact revealed her wonderful faith in the love of God as keeping power. In countless ways she manifested her beautiful Christian character, and even down to the last hours of her life she showed a keen interest in her family and her friends, and frequently expressed her appreciation for kindness shown her. Her kind and sympathetic disposition was shown in the fact that, through all her mature life she was usually the first in her neighborhood to whom people turned in time of sickness or sorrow, and she always lent a helping hand and spoke words of comfort and cheer. She was of a sunny disposition and always looked on the bright side of life. Hence hers was a life of helpfulness and good cheer for all about her.

Mrs. Foree had long been a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, being a charter member and the first Worthy Matron of the chapter in Williamstown, Mo. She was also a charter member of Grace chapter in Wilmore, in which she always took much interest. Her children contribute the following tribute to her memory: "Mother, dear, the cord is not broken - only one more strand in the cable across the river over which our dear Savior will pilot us to meet you there. We shall miss you, oh so greatly, we shall miss your smile and counsel, dear, but we know that you are waiting for us to join you over there."

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Thomas Madison Foree, eldest son of Thomas J. and Nannie T. (Jackson) Foree; grandson of Mary E. (Bush) Foree.

Thomas J. Foree, usually known as Jeff Foree, father of Thomas Madison Foree; son of Mary E. (Bush) Foree.

Nannie T. (Jackson) Foree, wife of Thomas J. Foree; mother of Thomas Madison Foree; daughter-in-law of Mary E. (Bush) Foree.

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